The Cleveland Browns had to wait a long time to make a selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. They didn’t have a first or second-round pick because of trades that were made previously, as their first selection didn’t come until No. 74.
Despite the limited draft capital, Cleveland made the most of its selections. One pick that stood out came in the fourth round. With the first of two selections in that round, the Browns selected Ohio State offensive tackle, Dawand Jones.
It is a pick that many people believe is one of the biggest steals in the draft. Some mock leads up to the 2023 NFL Draft had Jones going as high as No. 8 to the Atlanta Falcons, but he was surpassed by every team multiple times until the Browns called his name.
According to Dov Kleiman on Twitter, part of the reason for that fall was that Jones admitted during pre-draft interviews that his dream is to play in the NBA, not in the NFL. That turned off some evaluators, in addition to his weight issues.
It is fair to say that Jones had a rough pre-draft process but he will eventually have a chance with the Browns to prove those doubters wrong. If he lives up to the pro comp that he received, Cleveland will be ecstatic.
The pro comparison that Jones received was Orlando Brown Jr. Brown suffered a similar fate during his draft year as his stock plummeted after very poor testing. Things turned out okay for him as he eventually turned into a serviceable left tackle and has been paid handsomely in his career.
His size is truly intimidating at 6’8” and weighing 375 pounds during the pre-draft process. While his appearance at the Senior Bowl was brief, he was the best player there according to a CBS Sports scouting report. If Jones can keep his weight in check, the tools are there for him to become a dominant player.
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